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THE  SUGAR  BEET 


NORTH  CAROLINA. 


REPORT  TO  THE 

COMMISSIONER  OF  AGRICULTURE 

ON  THE  RESULTS  OF 

Experiments  with  the  Sugar  Beet 

IN  THE  COUNTIES  OF 

ANSON,  BEAUFORT,  BURKE,  CABARRUS,  CHATHAM,  DUPLIN" 
EDGECOMBE,  GRANVILLE,  ORANGE  and  WAKE, 


ALBERT  K  LEDOOX,  Ph.  D., 

CHEMIST     TO    THE    DEPARTMENT    OF    AGRICULTURE, 

AND 

Director  of  the  State  Experiment  and  Fertilizer  Control 
Station,  at  the  State  University. 

CHAPEL  HILL,  N.C. 


R  A  L  E  1  a  H  : 

FARMER  AND  MECHANIC  STEAM  BOOK,  JOB  OFFICE  &  BOOK  BINDERY, 
18  78. 


REPORT. 


Hon.  L.  L.  Polk,   Commissioner  of  Agriculture, 

Dear  Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  lay  before  you  the  f ohow- 
ing  report  upon  the  Sugar  Beets  grown  in  this  State,  and  sent 
to  the  Experiment  Station  for  analysis.  It  is  a  matter  of  pro- 
found regret  to  myself,  as  i^is  to  you  and  the  other  members 
of  the  Board  of  Agriculture,  that  so  few  and  meagre  returns 
have  been  made  for  the  trouble  you  have  taken,  and  the  seeds 
sent  out. 

The  correspondence  of  those  experimenters  who  have  made 
any  report  will  point  out  many  of  the  causes  of  failure.  Chief 
among  them,  perhaps,  is  the  fact  that  the  seeds  did  not  reach 
their  destination  until  late  in  April,  or  early  in  May,  a  full 
month  too  late.  There  are  other  causes  undoubtedly  wdiich 
had  their  influence,  and  prominent  among  them,  no  doubt, 
was  a  lack  of  full  knowledge  as  to  the  proper  means  of  culti- 
vation. With  this  in  view,  I  have  embodied  in  my  report  at 
some  length,  a  synopsis  of  the  best  German  experience.  Owing 
to  a  desire  to  awaken  an  increased  and  intelligent  interest  in 
the  subject,  I  have  also  added  a  brief  resume  of  the  present 
state  of  the  Sugar  Beet  industry  in  this  country,  and  some 
other  matters  which  may  be  found  practically  valuable. 

Though  the  results  of  your  efforts  to  have  the  State  fairly 
represented  have  been  so  unfortunately  few  in  number,  yet 
the  analyses  of  the  product  of  the  ten  counties  represented  in 
my  report  are  by  no  means  discouraging.  While  in  no  case 
does  the  per  centage  of  sugar  reach  12,  yet  the  average  of  all 
is  much  higher  than  that  obtained  in  some  States,  and  quite 
encouraging.     At  any  rate  I  hope  that  the  present  report  may 


(4) 

be  the  meaus  of  keeping  up  the  interest  in  the^State,  and  that 
by  beginning  in  season,  and  with  the  help  of  this  year's  ex- 
perience, and  with  new  hght  on  the  subject,  we  can  show  the 
world  next  year  that  the  results  we  hoped|_to  attain  can  be 
fully  realized.  Yours  respectfully, 

ALBERT  R.  LEDOUX, 
Agricultural  Experiment  Station, 
State  University,  Chapel   Hill,   K.  C 
January  dth,  1878, 


SUGAR. 


"Sugar,  in  the  form  with  which  we  are  most  familiar — the 
so-called  "  Cane  Sugar" — has  been  known  and  used  from  the 
most  remote  ages  in  India  and  China,  the  very  name  com- 
ing down  to  us  through  the  Arabic  or  Persian  language,  and 
it  is  known  as  "  Sukkar"  in  Arabia  at  the  present  day.  The 
*'  Calamus,"  and  "  Sweet  reed"  of  the  Bible  are  also  supposed 
to  refer  to  the  Sugar  Cane. 

The  manufacture  of  Sugar  came  slowly  into  Europe,  en- 
tering by  way  of  Venice  in  the  10th  century.  Strabo, 
Arrian,  Pliny  and  others  had  already  mentioned  in  their 
historical  accounts  of  the  nearer  Orient,  the  occurrance  of  a 
plant — undoubtedly  the  Cane — which  yielded  a  syrup  that 
was  eaten  as  honey  with  bread,  and  was  brought  originally 
from  India  and  Ethiopia. 

Pliny  says  further  that  it  was  called  "  Sacoharum,"  and 
that  sometimes  when  allowed  to  flow  from  the  bruised  plant 
it  would  form  a  white,  solid  substance  resembling  salt,  which 
was  used  as  a  medicine.  The  early  crusaders  found  the 
Syrians  indulging  in  a  sweet  juice  "  extracted  from  a  Cane 
which  they  broke  up  in  mortars,  and  sometimes  allowed 
this  extract  to  stand  in  the  sun  and  evaporate,  when  a 
whitish  substance  separated  out,  which  was  eaten  with 
bread."  The  crusaders  got  some  of  the  seed,  and  bringing 
back  samples  of  the  Cane,  they  introduced  its  cultivation 
into  Rhodes,  Sicily  and  Crete  in  the  9th  century.  Thus 
spreading  from  the  Levant  as  a  starting  point,  the  process  of 
manufacture  reached  Venice  in  996,  Spain  and  Portugal 
coming  next,  and  finally  in  1319  Sugar  became  an  article  of 
importation   into  Great  Britain   in  considerable   quantity. 


(6) 

It  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  the  Spaniards  found 
the  Sugar  Cane  already  growing,  when  they  discovered  the 
"West  Indies ;  at  any  rate  with  their  wonderful  adaptability 
of  soil  and  climate,  and  the  subsequent  introduction  of  slave 
labor,  they  soon  came  into  complete  control  of  the  sugar  mar- 
kets, and  in  the  16th  century  India,  Europe,  and  the  Medi- 
terranean Islands  were  driven  out  of  all  competition,  and 
their  manufactures  languished. 

There  are  three  chief  saccharine  substances,  difi'ering 
slightly  in  chemical  composition,  which  are  more  or  less  fa- 
miliar to  us.  These  are  called  "  Cane  Sugar,"  •'  Grape  Su- 
gar," and  "  Milk  Sugar."  The  last  gives  to  milk  its  sweet 
taste,  and  is  found  only  in  that  animal  secretion  of  which  it 
constitutes  from  3  to  10  per  cent.  It  is  made  frora  whey,  on 
quite  a  large  scale  among  the  mountain  dairies  of  Switzer- 
land, and  finds  its  chief  use  as  a  vehicle  for  Homeopathic 
medicines,  and  in  some  localities  as  an  article  of  food.  It  is 
white,  hard,  and  brittle. 

Grape  Sugar,  called  also  "  Glucose,"  is  undoubtedly  the 
most  abundant  and  widely  distributed  in  nature  of  the  three 
forms  of  sugar.  It  gives  to  almost  all  fruits  their  sweet 
taste,  and  is  the  main  cause  of  the  sweetness  in  nearly  all 
our  cultivated  vegetables.  It  can  moreover  be  made  artifi- 
cially from  starch  by  a  very  simple  process,  and  yields 
readily  to  fermentation,  forming  Alcohol,  and  on  this  ac- 
count it  is  coming  more  and  more  into  demand  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  beers  and  alcoholic  liquors.  It  is  not  crystali- 
zable. 

Cane  Sugar  is  to  every  one  a  familiar  friend,  and  needs  no 
description.  It  is  the  most  common  of  all  our  so-called  lux- 
uries ;  the  last  we  give  up  when  compelled  to  economize. 
*It  is  claimed  by   some   political   economists   that  the  cou- 


*In  1866,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  the  consumption  of  sugar  per  capita 
in  the  United  States  was  only  one  half  what  it  was  in  187G. 


(7) 

sumption  of  Sugar  will  give  a  very  fair  idea  of  the  wealth 
and  prosperity  of  a  people. 

Unlike  Grape  Sugar,  Cane  Sugar  is  produced  by  compai- 
atively  few  plants,  in  sufficient  quantity  to  render  its  ex- 
traction profitable.  The  Sugar  Cane,  Chinese  Cane,  (or 
Sorghum)  the  Sugar  Maple,  a  few  species  of  Palm  and 
the  Sugar  Beet  being  the  only  members  of  the  vegetable 
kingdom  from  which  it  is  obtained  in  any  quantity.  ^Nor 
can  it  be  made  artificially.  Of  the  above  mentioned  sources 
of  Cane  Sugar,  Sugar  Cane  supplies  G6  per  cent.,  Sugar 
Beets  28  per  cent.,  the  Palms  5  per  cent.,  and  the  Maple  1 
per  cent. 

In  the  Report  of  the  United  States  Commissioner  of  Agri- 
culture for  187G,  we  find  the  following  tables,  showing  the 
consumption,  source  and  cost  of  the  sugar  used  in  this 
country. 

SOURCE  AND  CONSUMPTION. 

"  The  commercial  estimate  of  the  supph'  of  the  past  year 
is  as  follovrs : 

TONS. 

Cane  Sugar,  domestic  and  foreign 038,869 

Cane  Sugar  received  on  the  Pacific  coast  28,300 

Cane  Sugar  made  from  Molasses -13,(300 

Maple  Sugar 13,000 

Domestic  Beet,  Sorghum,  etc.,  2,000 

Taken  for  consumption  in  1876 725,269 

Taken  for  consumption  in  1875 773,002 

On  the  basis  of  a  population  of  45,000,000  the  consumj*- 
tion  would  be  36  pounds  to  each  in  1876,  and  38  for  the 
population  in  1875.  The  sugar  supply  of  the  commercial 
world  in  1875  was  3,457,623  tons,  of  which  40  per  cent,  was 
Beet  Sugar  made  in  Europe.  Cuba  produced  one-third  of 
the  Cane  Sugar ;  the  other  We:^t  India  Islands  and  Brazil, 


(8) 

Java  and  Mauritius,  are  all  prominent  sources  of  supply. 
The  ^following  is  an  estimate  from  high  authority  of  the 
quantities  produced  of  hoth  kinds  in  1875  : 

CANE  SUGAR. 

TONS. 

Cuba 700,000 

Porto  Eico 80,000 

British,  Dutch,  and  Danish  West  Indies •  250,000 

Java 200,000 

Brazil 170,000 

Manila , 130,000 

China 120,000 

Mauritius 100,000 

Martinique  and  Guadaloupe 100,000 

Louisianna 75,000 

Peru 50,000 

Egypt 40,000 

Central  America  and  Mexico 40,000 

Reunion 30,000 

British  India  and  Penang 30,000 

Honolulu  10,000 

Natal 10,000 

Australia  51,000 


Total  tons 2,140,000 

BEET-ROOT    SUGAR. 

TONS. 

German  Empire 346,646 

France 462,259 

Russia  and  Poland 245,000 

Austria  and  Hungary 153,922 

Belgi  um 7  9,796 

Holland,  and  other  countries 30,000 


Total  tons 1,317,623 


(9) 


COST. 


"The  cost  of  these  sweets  is  a  serious  burden  upon  the 
country.  "  We  have  the  soil  to  produce  a  full  supply,  either 
of  cane  or  beet  sugar  and  laborers  sufiering  for  work,  and 
measures  should  be  taken  for  a  rapid  increase  of  home  pro- 
duction. The  details  of  the  cost  of  the  sugar  used  in  this 
country,  subject  to  a  slight  reduction  from  re-exportation, 
are  thus  given  in  the  statistics  of  the  customs  receipts : 

FIfCAL  YEAR  OF  1876. 

Sugar,  brown pounds,  1,414,254,663  $55,702,903 

Sugar,  refined pounds,              19,981  1,685 

Molasses .gallons,       39,026,200  8,157,470 

Melada,  syrup,  &c pounds,       79,702,878  2,415,995 

Candy,  &c pounds,              87,955  18,500 


$66,296,553' 

Beside  the  cane  proper,  and  sugar  beet,  a  few  other  sources 
of  sugar  have  been  suggested  or  tried  in  this  country. 
Among  the  most  prominent  being  sorghum,  the  maple,  and 
recently  watermelons. 

SORGHUM, 

Quoting  again  from  the  report  of  the  Agricultural  Bureau 
for  1876: 

"  As  an  estimate  for  twenty-one  years  since  the  introduc- 
tion of  sorghum,  11,000,000  gallons  of  syrup  per  annum 
might  approximate  the  product.  At  an  average  value  of 
65  cents  (it  is  less  now)  the  value  of  the  annual  product 
would  be  $7,150,000.  The  sugar  of  sorghum  is  a  small 
item,  yet   in   fourteen  years,  in   Ohio  alone,  it  amounts  to 


(10) 

503,000  lbs.  Including  sugar  and  forage,  the  annual  value 
must  be  not  less  than  $8,000,000,  and  the  aggregate  value 
$168,000,000  since  its  introduction  by  the  Department  of 
Agriculture." 

MAPLE  SUGAR. 

This  industry  which  is  of  less  importance  in  our  Southern 
country,  is  nevertheless  of  considerable  value  to  the  United 
States.  The  total  amount  of  sugar  and  syrup  obtained  from 
this  source  in  1870  was  equivalent  to  about  57,000,000 
pounds  of  sugar,  which  at  10  cents  per  pound  gives  a  total 
value  of  $5,700,000. 

The  manufacture  of  sugar  from  watermelons  is  of  more 
interest  to  our  people  than  that  from  the  sugar  maple,  and 
we  shall  watch  with  interest  an  experiment  now  in  progress 
in  California.  A  stock  company,  with  a  capital  of  $2,000,- 
000  is  about  commencing  operations,  and  though  chemists 
and  manufacturers  are  rather  doubtful  of  their  financial 
success,  they  enthusiastically  claim  that  they  can  obtain  10 
per  cent  of  sugar  from  the  juice,  alcohol  from  the  pulp  and 
rind,  and  25  per  cent,  of  oil  for  table  use  from  the  seeds.* 

THE   SUUAR,    BEET, 

Having  thus  briefly  examined  the  other  sources  of  cane 
sugar,  let  us  now  turn  to  the  Sugar-Beet. 

As  long  ago  as  1747  a  German  chemist  discovered  the 
presence  of  cane  sugar  in  the  white  and  red  beet,  and  in 
1796  the  first  factory  for  the  manufacture  of  beet  sugar  was 
established  in  Prussia.  The  great  cost  of  cane  sugar  made 
the  new  idea  of  obtaining  it  from  a  domestic  source  exceed- 


*  At  some  future  day  I  hope  to  be  able  to  make  some  experimeuts  with 
the  Sweet  Potato,  which  has  a  large  per  centage  of  grape  sugar  and  starch. 
and  may  yet  possibly  form  the  basis  of  a  large  industry  in  North  Caro- 
lina and  the  other  Southern  States. 


(11) 

ingly  alluring.  The  experiment  spread  tlirougli  Europe, 
with  many  a  failure,  many  a  lesson  gained  through  the  loss 
of  enormous  fortunes  invested;  now  taxed,  now  protected 
by  the  Governments,  with  constant  improvements  in  culti- 
vation and  machinery,  until  at  the  present  day  nearly  one- 
third  of  the  cane  sugar  used  by  the  civilized  world  is  ob- 
tained from  beets.  At  first  the  percentage  of  erystalizable 
sugar  in  the  juice  of  the  beets  was  low,  and  only  with  im- 
proved means  of  cultivation,  the  results  of  many  experi- 
ments, did  the  French  and  German  agriculturists  learn  to 
produce  a  uniform  average  of  12  per  cent,  or  over. 

The  beet  is  a  natural  growth  in  several  localities,  abound- 
ing in  a  wild  state  on  the  Mediterranean  coast.  The  present 
varieties  of  sugar  beet  are  the  result  of  cultivation  and  hy- 
bridization. 

Before  speaking  of  the  results  of  our  experiments  in  this 
country  to  raise  the  beet  profitably,  I  have  deemed  it  best 
to  present  to  our  farmers  a  synopsis  of  the  results  obtained 
by  the  European  experimenters,  and  which  show  what  treat- 
ment the  beet  requires  from  the  cultivator  to  give  uniformly 
good  results.  This  information  is  clearly  and  concisely 
stated  in  Dr.  Stammer's  "  Lehrbuch  der  Zuckerindustrie," 
and  I  beg  to  be  allowed  to  give  a  somewhat  free  translation 
of  the  valuable  chapter  on  the 

CULTIVATION  OF  THE  BEET. 

1.  "  The  Soil. — Although  neither  by  chemical  analysis  nor 
by  examination  of  the  physical  properties,  can  we  tell  in 
every  case  that  a  certain  soil  will  or  will  not  grow  the  beet 
successfully,  yet  experience  has  shown  that,  in  general, 
successful  culture  requires  a  soil  loose  ;  deep,  rather  more  rich 
in  humus;  more  loamy  and  limey  than  sandy  ;  with  porous  sub- 
soil, and  a  warm.,  sunny  (xjyosure.  Of  course  not  dejicie7it  in 
any  of  the  necessary  ingredients  of  plant  food,  which  may 


(12) 

easily  be  the  case,  when  the  potash  and  phosphoric  acid 
have  been  too  largely  drawn  upon. 

The  recognition  of  a  suitable  soil  for  sugar  beets  presents 
greater  difficulties  than  for  many  other  plants,  for  they 
obtain  most  of  their  indispensable  nutriment,  by  means  of 
their  long  root,  from  the  sub-soil,  and  the  composition  of  this 
eub-soil  is  therefore  of  immense  importance.  It  is  on  this 
account  that  the  experiments  hitherto,  with  superficial  ma- 
nuring, have  yielded  no  uniform  results.  We  manure  that 
portion  of  the  soil,  to  be  sure,  from  which  the  growing  beet 
does  long  derive  noarishment,  but  not  that  portion  whence 
the  plant  obtains  its  food  during  the  all  important  period  of 
the  formation  of  sugar.  And  the  chemical  means  of  send- 
ing the  manures  down  into  the  sub-soil  (viz :  by  admixture 
of  chloride  of  sodium,)  are  by  no  means  so  certain  in  their 
application  that  we  can  trust  confidently  that  invariable 
results  will  follow  every  such  experiment. 

On  the  other  hand,  and  in  perfect  accord  with  this,  deep 
ploiving,  (subsoiling)  has  given  the  best  and  surest  results 
in  beet  culture  ;  and  all  observations  upon  the  happy  influence 
■of  the  steam  plow  upon  the  beet  crop,  without  exception, 
(if  we  look  at  them  in  the  proper  light)  may  be  referred 
back  to  this  cause,  deep  plowing. 

From  this  standpoint  all  those  efforts  lohich  have  for  their 
mm  the  improving  of  the  subsoil  by  mechanical.,  as  loell  as  by 
chemical  means  are  the  most  important  in  beet  cidtivaiion.  In 
other  words,  on  one  hand  the  deeper  cultivation  of  the  ground, 
•on  the  other  the  sub-soiling  ['untergrunddungung,'  (manur- 
ing the  subsoil.)] 

Chemical  analysis  of  that  portion  of  the  soil  which  we  are 
accustomed  to  call  the  sub-soil  ('acker  krum')  with  a  view 
to  the  cultivation  of  sugar  beets,  save  in  exceptional  cases, 
is  of  little  or  no  importance  or  use.  And  as  far  as  the  phys- 
ical properties  are  concerned,  experiment  is  always  the  best 
■means    of  ascertaining  ivhether  a  soil  is  suited  for  beet  culture 


(13) 

07'  not.  Of  course  such  soils  as  do  not  meet  the  general  re- 
quirements mentioned  above  are  out  of  the  question;  for  ex- 
ample, such  as  are  too  sandy,  wet  or  stony.  And  on  the  other 
hand,  those  soils  which,  from  their  origin  would  be  expected 
to  possess  those  elements  of  plant  food  most  abundant  in  the 
ash  of  the  beet,  will  more  probably  show  a  better  adapta- 
bility for  beet  culture.  We  should  not,  however,  draw  too 
hasty  conclusions  from  the  result  of  a  single  experiment. 
The  work  expended  upon  the  soil  becomes  perceptible  only 
by  degrees,  hence  a  field  only  becomes  a  good  beet-growing; 
field  by  degrees." 

MANURING. 

2.  "  Manuring  should  always  first  of  all  give  back  to  the 
ground  what  the  harvest  has  removed  from  it,  and  not  only 
the  mineral  (inorganic)  constituents,  but  also  the  nitrogen. 
Nothing  is  surer  than  that  a  soil  to  which  a  full  return  of  ijlant 
food  is  7\ot  made,  loses  by  degrees  its  power  to  -produce  the  crop 
requh^ed  in  normal  quantity  and  composition.  The  experimental 
cultivation  of  the  beet  with  artificially  prejiared  fertili- 
zing liquids  has  been  much  less  pursued  than  with  other 
plants,  and  therefore  the  relation  between  the  composition  of 
these  liquids  and  the  development  of  the  beet  is  not  yet  de- 
termined. AVe  lack  also  the  basis  upon  which  to  predicate 
the  direct  action  of  manures  upon  the  beet.  Here  lies  the 
difficulty,  above  indicated,  of  applying  the  manurial  sub- 
stances to  that  layer  of  the  soil  whence  the  beet  principally 
derives  its  nourishment.  Hence  in  the  present  state  of  our 
knowledge  and  of  our  fertilizers,  the  object  of  our  fertiliza- 
tion can  be  nothing  more  than  the  retaining  in  good  condition 
of  a  soil  ivhich  is  already  suitable  for  beet  culture.'" 

"  After  the  above  remarks  it  will  not  be  thought  aston- 
ishing when  we  say  that  all  the  laborious  and  painstaking 
experiments  with  the  manuring  and  culture  of  beets  have  a& 


yet  giveu  no  results  uniform  and  everywhere  applicable. 
Such  results  we  can  only  expect  from  a  study  of  those  laws 
which  may  be  deduced  from  the  artificial  cultivation  of  the 
beet  in  special  liquids. 

And  yet  it  is  in  no  contradiction  of  these  facts  when  we 
advise  the  beet  culturist  to  keep  up  constant  experiments 
with  fertilizers  upon  different  sells.  It  is  in  such  cases  Only 
necessary  to  determine  the  particular  form  and  quantity  of 
manure  which  under  the  peculiar  local  conditions  gives  the 
best  returns.  And  in  many  cases  some  particular  form  of 
manure  will  prove  the  best,  but  the  power  to  produce  a  safe 
and  invariable  influence  upon  the  crop  will  only  seldom  be 
attained.  The  effect  of  those  factors  over  which  we  have  no 
power,  climate  and  weather,  are  of  infinitely  greater  in- 
fluence than  the  small  alterations  which  we  can  produce  by 
ihe  augmentation,  deterioration,  or  maintenance  of  good 
■condition  of  soil  within  the  circumscribed  limits  of  artificial 
fertilization." 

"  Experience  has  taught  that  those  beets  which  are  raised 
upon  fields  manured  with  fresh — especially  stable -manure 
are  less  suited  for  manufacturing  purposes.  On  this  account 
the  rule  has  long  been  established  that  the  manure  should 
not  be  applied  directly  to  the  beets,  but  to  some  other  pre- 
vious crop,  or,  that  beets  should  be  cultivated  as  the  2ad  or 
3rd  in  a  series  of  rotation.  Unfortunately  this  rule,  most 
important  to  the  manufacturer,  was  not  so  generally  observed 
in  earlier  times  as  it  should  have  been,  so  that  very  often  on 
account  of  heavy  manuring  large  crops  were  obtained,  but 
at  the  expense  of  the  sugar,  or  quality  of  the  juice. 

This  rule  is  especially  applicable  to  stable  manure,  and 
that  from  cess-pools  ;  less  so  to  the  so-called  "  artificial  ferti- 
lizers" which,  when  they  are  not  employed  directly  in  too 
great  quantities,  are  followed  by  fewer  injurious  effects. 

The  principal  constituents  which  must  be  taken  into  ac- 
count in  reckoning  the  addition  to  and  removal  of  plant  food 


(15) 

from  the  soil  by  beets,  are  Potash,  Phosphoric  Acid,  Mag. 
nesia  and  Nitrogen.  As  the  amount  harvested  difters  with 
the  soil  and  other  circumstances,  we  will  therefore  employ 
for  our  calculations  following,  the  mean  proportion  of  these 
four  substances  present  in  1000  lbs  of  beets  and  bett  tops, 
as  determined  by  analysis  : 

1,000  lbs  of 
Roots  Leaves 

CONTAIN : 

Potash 3.9  lbs.  6.5  lbs. 

Phosphoric  Acid  0.8"  1.3    " 

Magnesia 0.5   •'  2.7    " 

Nitrogen 1.6  "  3.0    " 

Ash 7.1  "  IS.l    " 

We  see  from  this  table,  by  noticing  the  proportion  be- 
tween roots  and  leaves,  that  the  removal  from  the  soil 
by  the  leaves  is  so  considerable,  that  it  should  receive  cpiite 
especial  consideration  in  the  calculation,  when  the  tops  are 
not  returned  to  the  field  immediately  after  the  harvest. 
The  latter  proceeding  is  to  be  urged  all  the  more,  since  on 
most  beet  farms  there  is  a  deficiency  of  fodder,  and  it  is  a 
temptation  to  replace  the  loss  in  fodder  by  feeding  the  tops. 
From  this  standpoint,  the  wide  spread  custom  of  paying  for 
pulling  the  beets  by  giving  the  tops  to  the  laborer  for  his 
work,  is  an  evil  which  should  be  striven  against.  It  is  pretty 
certain  that  a  full  compensation  to  fields  so  treated  carmot  be 
effected. 

"The  removal  of  potash  can  be  easily  reckoned,  as  in  the 
following  illustration,  for  example,  and  thereby  we  can 
show  what  return  of  potash  is  needed,  if  the  field  is  to  con- 
tinue to  produce  plants  containing  potash.  In  one  distillery 
in  France,  which  is,  to  be  sure,  rather  exceptional  in  the 
enormous  business  it  does,  over  82,000  lbs.  of  molasses  per 


(16) 

day  are  converted  into  alcohol,  equivalent  to  the  yearly 
harvest  of  79,000  acres  of  beets.  The  residue  from  this 
molasses  is  worked  up  into  potash  and  soda  salts.  These 
salts  were  originally  extracted  from  the  soil  in  minute  quan- 
tities, little  by  little,  by  the  long  and  tedious  processes  of 
vegetation  ;  processes  artificially  inimitable.  They  are  ex- 
clusively used  in  chemical  industries,  and  not  returned  to 
the  soil. 

If  we  calculate  the  amount  of  potash  which  is  removed 
from  79,000  acres  in  the  molasses  and  add  to  it  besides  that 
removed  with  the  raw  sugar,  we  find  it  reaches  at  least  28,000 
cwt  per  year,  for  which  compensation  must  be  made.  *  * 
*  *  As  in  this  case  only  the  potash  is  considered  which 
was  obtained  in  the  Jinal  product,  these  figures  are  much 
below  the  reality;  really  deceptive  in  fact,  when  we  think 
of  what  is  lost  by  imperfect  extraction,  and  left  in  the  press 
cake,  &c.,  &c. 

In  this  way  should  evert/  farmer  calculate,  in  order  to  find 
out  whether  there  is  danger,  either  in  the  near  or  distant 
future,  that  his  land  should  become  'poor  in  potash.  That  such  a 
result  will  happen  is  certain,  even  though  a  particularly  bountiful 
supply  of  potash  in  the  soil  inay  put  it  off  for  some  time  J' 

"The  fonn  in  which  the  above  mentioned  plant  constitu- 
ents should  be  returned  to  the  soil,  is  fixed  as  far  as  the  phos- 
phoric acid  and  magnesia  are  concerned ;  partly  also  for 
the  nitrogen.  Super  phosphates,  with  more  or  less  accom- 
panying nitrogen  (naturally  present  or  added)  may  always 
be  used.  The  magnesia  may  come  from  the  w^aste  material 
of  sugar  manufacture,  with  which  direct  investigation  has 
shown  it  is  nearly  all  returned  to  the  soil,  although  the  state 
of  sub-division  does  not  insure  entirely  even  distribution. 
This  latter  defect  may  be  partly  remedied  by  cutting  up  or 
composting.  It  is  to  be  recommended  from  time  to  time  to 
'  make  calculations  based  on  analysis  of  the  manurial  sub- 
stances employed,  so  as  to  ascertain  the  amount  of  phosphoric 


(17) 

acid,  and  especially  magnesia,  added  to  the  soil.  For  these 
last  two  substances  this  (calculation)  is  easily  made.  More 
difficult  is  the  question  of  the  potash  which  has  been  re- 
moved by  the  crop.  Manuring  with  potash  salts  is  fre- 
quently undervalued,  and  undoubtedly  because  large  and 
tangible  results  were  expected  which  failed  to  appear,  while 
the  chief  end  of  potash  manures  is  neither  in  augmenting  nor 
bettering  the  crop,  but  in  causing  it  to  hold  its  own.  This  re- 
sult is  especially  noticeable  from  the  fact  that  no  diminution 
takes  place  in  the  yield,  which  would  certainly  be  the  case 
in  a  greater  or  less  number  of  years  if  the  compensation 
was  not  complete.  ***** 

A  further  consideration,  and  such  an  one  as  would  greatly 
modify  the  results,  lies  in  the  form  of  the  potash  compound 
employed.  There  is  no  other  point  on  which  the  opinions 
of  practical  men  so  much  differ  as  in  this,  and  continually 
are  new  compounds  declared  to  be  the  best;  but  of  universal 
application  alone  is  the  rule  above,  that  we  should  always 
mix  the  potash  salts  with  common  salt  (NaCl),  in  order  to 
insure  their  being  conveyed  to  the  lower  soil ;  also  the  ad- 
mixture of  magnesia  salts,  when  these  have  not  been  ap- 
plied in  some  other  way.  l!^one  of  the  potash  salts  from 
natural  deposits  possess  any  peculiar  merit  above  the  others. 
But  those  having  an  admixture  of  organic  matter  seem  to 
me  to  be  preferable.  *  *  *  *  For  this  pur- 
pose, that  potash  coming  from  the  beet  itself — the  residue 
rich  in  lime,  the  molasses,  &c. — is  most  valuable  and 
should  be  returned  to  the  field  when  possible.  One 
should  not  believe,  however,  that  potash  sufficient  for 
the  development  of  the  plant  has  been  added  when  the 
molasses  and  other  waste  products  of  the  beet  harvest  have 
been  returned  to  the  field.  Without  taking  into  considera- 
tion the  leaves,  which  may  have  been  left  upon  the  field,  a 
very  large  amount  of  potash  is  still  necessary,  and  the  mo- 
alone  does  not  restore  the  amount  needed  by  a  good 


(18) 

deal,  as  an  easy  calculation  will  show.  In  manufactories 
where  raw  sugar  is  sold,  much  potash  is  disposed  of  with 
the  sugar,  and  in  all  manufactories  the  waste  water  always 
carries  off  potash  compounds,  and  although  in  compara- 
tively small  amounts,  yet  in  sufficient  quantity  to  account 
for  the  difference  between  the  amount  of  potash  found  in 
the  beet,  and  in  the  molasses.  This  is  no  theoretical  consid- 
eration, but  one  founded  upon  exact  comparative  analyses." 

"  There  are  however  large  tracts  of  beet  growing  country 
where,  on  account  of  the  present  state  of  things,  or  owing  to 
their  locality,  this  style  of  manuring  (with  beet  re- 
fuse) is  difficult  or  impossible.  For  such,  as  also  for  the 
«ver  present  deficit  above  mentioned,  we  are  thrown  back 
upon  the  "Potash  salts,"  and  this  must  be  the  case  on  many 
farms  till  an  easier  method  of  manuring  with  beet  refuse 
[press  cake]  is  discovered.  Without  allowing  myself  to  go 
into  the  question  as  to  which  is  the  best  Potash  salt,  and 
why  such  dissimilar  results  from  manuring  are  observed, 
I  will  nevertheless  point  out  the  fact  that  the  universally 
good  results  which  follow  the  manuring  with  beet  refuse 
[press  cake]  will  serve  as  a  kind  of  guide  board  for  us;  that 
is,  that  the  present  method  of  applying  the  Potash  salts  broad 
cast  over  the  field  should  be  supplanted  by  another,  viz : 
dissolving  the  salt  in  liquids  which  are  rich  in  organic  matter. 

We  should  certainly  expect  that  a  solution  of  the  Potash 
salt  in  the  urine  from  the  stalls  and  stables  for  example, 
would  insure  a  very  equal  distribution  of  the  Potash  in  the 
soil,  and  in  fact  in  a  form  better  suited  to  the  assimilative 
powers  of  the  plant,  than  scattering  about  small  crystals  of 
an  inorganic  Potash  compound.  Naturally  this  same  result 
may  be  reached  in  other  ways,  as  for  example,  by  mixing  a 
concentrated  water  solution  with  the  other  manure,  or  with 
the  compost  heap  and  applying  to  the  field  the  manure 
thus  enriched  with  Potash.  Experience  and  personal  ex- 
periment will  point  out  the  preferable  way. 


(19) 

Tlie  advantages  of  such  mixing  of  Potash  salts  with  the 
stable  liquids  (often  accomplished  by  farmers  by  strewing 
the  Potash  salt  about  the  stalls)  are  thus  enumerated  by 
Frank. 

1.  The  sulphate  of  magnesia  contained  in  the  Potash 
salts  holds  (retains)  the  Ammonia  and  Phosphoric  Acid. 
2nd.  The  too  rapid  fermentation  of  the  urine  is  prevented. 
3rd.  The  prevention  of  the  loss  of  Ammonia,  and  too  rapid 
fermentation  make  the  manure  sweeter  and  more  healthy. 
4th.  The  tediousness  of  scattering  broadcast  is  obviated,  and 
a  much  better  sub-division  and  distribution  upon  the  field 
are  obtained.  5th.  Tjie  cost  of  manuring  with  Potash  is 
thus  lessened,  as  the  cheaper  Potash  salts,  on  account  of  the 
magnesia  they  contain  are  better  for  dissolving  in  this 
manner.  6th.  The  expense  for  plaster  which  otherwise 
would  have  to  be  employed  is  obviated."  [Dr.  Stammer 
here  goes  on  to  prove  the  value  of  the  sugar  beet  refuse, 
and  gives  the  three  methods  of  applying  it  usually  em- 
ployed, viz :  leading  the  liquids  in  pipes  to  the  field  from  a 
reservoir,  carrying  it  there  in  barrels,  etc.,  or  burning  it 
and  then  applying  the  ashes.  The  first  is  too  expensive  for 
general  use,  and  the  the  latter  causes  a  loss  in  nitrogen 
A.  R.  L  ]  *  ***** 

''  If  we  ask  what  quantity  of  the  above  recommended 
manures  should  be  used,  surely  no  farmer  would  expect  a 
special,  universally  applicable  answer,  and  I  will  only  re- 
call the  general  rule  that  it  is  alwaijs  desirable,  if  not  actually 
necessary,  to  restore  to  a  ji-ild  all  thz  mineral  elements  of  ^lant 
food,  and  from  2  to  2,  times  tlu  amount  of  Ammonia  removed  by 
the  crop.  I  will  further  remark  that  an  excessive  applica- 
tion of  Potash  and  Phosphoric  Acid  (the  cost  of  Ammonia 
will  insure  that  the  above  given  proportion  is  not  exceeded.) 
has  no  injurious  effect  upon  the  beet,  at  least  not  within 
the  limits  caused  by  errors  in  calculation,  or  mistakes  in 
practice.     On  the  other  hand  writers  are  beginning  to  agree 


(20) 

that  excessive  application  will  not  increase  the  yield  in  the 
same  proportion.  ***** 

*  *  *  *  "In  speaking  of  the  purely  agricultural 
part  of  the  work  of  sugar  beet  culture,  I  will  only  point  out 
the  importance,  the  necessity  oi  deep  cultivation,  and  though 
the  subsoil,  according  to  its  character,  need  not  always  be 
turned  up,  it  must  be  pulverized  and  drained  as  well  as 
possible — an  axiom  which  cultivation  by  steam  has  fixed 
beyond  a  doubt."         ***** 

"  I  think  I  can  not  better  close  this  short  consideration  of 
the  most  important  points  in  the  development  of  the  beet,, 
than  by  giving  the  most  important  rules  in  a  brief  and 
concise  form : 

1.  Be  exceedingly  careful  in  choosing  your  land  and  your 
seed. 

2.  Spare  no  pains  in  applying  the  manure.  For  this  pur- 
])ose  take  into  consideration,  not  only  the  debtor  and  credit 
sides  of  the  yield  of  the  field,  but  also  the  compensation  that 
the  ground  requires  for  the  constituents  removed  by  the 
harvest,  and  their  proper  return  in  manure. 

3.  A  rotation  of  crops  must  be  observed,  and  such  fields 
kept  out  of  the  number  used  for  beets,  which  show  their  un- 
suitableness  for  beet  culture. 

4.  Beet  culture  must  not  be  on  too  large  a  scale,  when  one 
wishes  larger  harvests  and  good  beets,  and  larger  lather 
than  smaller  harvests  of  grain,  than  he  obtained  before 
going  into  the  beet  culture. 

5.  The  preparation  of  the  soil  must  take  place  at  the 
proper  time,  in  a  proper  way,  and  with  proper  tools. 

G.  The  seed  should  be  sown  as  early  as  the  state  of  the 
ground  and  the  climate  will  allow. 

7.  Be  not  too  tardy  in  pulling  up  the  beets. 

8.  The  lioc  siiuuld  be  used  as  often  and  as  much  as  possi- 
ble. 

9.  The  harvest  must  not  be  put  off.         *         *         * 


(21) 

iO.  Never  cease  to  observe  and  learn. 
11.  Protect  the  birds,  which  destroy  the  hurtful  insects, 
and  wage  against  their  enemies  a  ceaseless  warfare." 

This  excellent  advice  of  Dr.  Stammer,  embodying  the 
experience  of  French  and  German  agriculturists,  contains 
much  by  which  we  may  profit,  not  only  in  our  experiments 
with  the  beet,  but  also  in  our  general  farming. 

As  before  said,  the  cultivation  of  the  sugar  beet  has 
spread  to  all  parts  of  Europe,  and  but  slight  trouble  seems 
to  have  arisen  on  account  of  the  difference  of  climate,  for 
we  find  the  beet  growing,  and  manufactories  running  in 
Russia,  Sweden,  Bohemia,  Austria,  France,  Germany,  Hol- 
land, Belgium,  etc.,  etc. 

In  this  country  nearly  every  one  of  the  northern  States 
and  many  of  the  western  have  made  greater  or  less  experi- 
ments on  growing  the  beet,  and  have  usually  stopped  there. 
In  many  instances  a  fair  per  centage  of  sugar  was  found  in 
the  juice,  even  Canada  comparing  very  favorably  with  the 
old  world  in  that  respect.  Statistics  of  these  experiments 
are  not  easily  accessible,  but  I  will  give  below  some  of  the 
results  attained  in  several  States,  and  will  refer  the  reader 
to  the  various  State  reports  for  the  details. 

Average  amount  of  sugar  in  beets  raised  in  the  following 
localities: 

Per  cent,  sugar. 

Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  1872,  8.70 

Dutchess  county,  "  "       10.97 

Washington  "       (a)      "  "       11.70 

"       (b)       "  ''       9.50 

Herkimer       "  "  "       11.00 

Orleans  "  "  "       12.40 

Amherst,  Massachusetts,       1870,  12.70 

1871,  10.79 


(22) 

Amherst,  Massachusetts,  1872,  7.37 

Montreal,  Canada,  1973,  8.86 

Bridgeville,    Delaware,  1876,  2.75 

Camden,                 "                     "  7.40 

Newark,                 "  "  3.70 

Seaford,                   "  "  2.00 

Wyoming,              "  "  5.50 

Wilmington,          "  "  3.00 

Harbeson,               "  "  2.88 

Milton,                   "  "  3.90 

Dover,                     "                    "  4.40 

Felton,                    "                    "  4.75 

Ellendale,               "                     "  2.00 

Milford,                   "                    "  14.70 

Lincoln,                   "                     "  3.00 

Harrington,            "                    "  5.10 

Pleasant  Hill,         "                     "  7.74 

Falkland,               "  .  "  13.00 

Farmington,           "                     "  5.70 

Wood stown,  New  Jersey,           "  4.30 

Pennsgrove,            "                    "  3.90 

Pedricktown,          "                     "  4  20 

Sharpsburg,  Maryland,             "  G.20 

Omaha,  Nebraska,                     *'  13.50 

Lincoln,        ''                             "  13.50 

(13  other  localities  in  Nebraska  gave  an  average  of  over 
15.50  per  cent.,  the  highest  being  15.61,  the  lowest  7.20  per 
cent. 

Virginia  Agricultural  Experiment  farm,  1872, (a)  13.72 

u     (b)  10.17 

There  have  been  many  other*  experiments  in  growing  the 
beet  in  different  Slates,  but  they  do  not  differ  in  general  re- 
sults from  those  cited  above.  It  will  be  seen  that  in  many 
cases  very  excellent  results  were  obtained,  and  yet  in  spite 


(23) 

of  this  fact  there  has  been  comparatively  little  done  in  the 
line  of  manufacture.  I  have  not  thought  it  necessary  to 
cite  the  variety  of  seed  used  in  the  several  cases,  nor  the 
character  of  soil  and  cultivation  employed. 

MANUFACTURE    OF    BEET    SUGAR. 

The  history  of  the  efforts  to  make  sugar  profitably  from 
the  beet  in  this  country  can  be  very  easily  told.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  principal  experiments  in  that  direction  : 

David  L.  Child,  of  Northampton,  Mass.,  made  1,300  lbs. 
of  sugar  from  beets  grown  on  his  own  farm  in  1838.  Yield, 
13  tons  of  beets  per  acre,  at  a  cost  of  $42. 

In  1853  Gennert  Bros.,  from  Germany, started  a  beet  far'^i 
of  2,400  acres,  at  Cliatsworth,  Ills.  The  land  ''analyzed 
well,"  yet  failed  to  yield  satisfactory  results.  Drought,  poor 
seed,  floods,  &c.,  also  militated  against  them,  and  in  1870 
they  removed  to  Freeport,  Ills.,  and,  if  I  am  not  mistaken, 
have  but  lately  closed  their  factor}",  having  produced  200,- 
000  lbs.  of  sugar  in  1870,  at  a  reasonable  profit. 

In  1867  a  company  was  formed  in  Wisconsin,  at  Fond  du 
Lac,  under  the  lead  of  Messrs.  Bonesteel  and  Otto,l)ut  on  n 
small  scale,  the  works  having  a  limited  capacity.  They 
have  recently  consolidated  with  a  California  compan}'  which 
is  still  working  successfully  in  that  State. 

In  1870  a  co-operative  company  of  farmers  started  a  smal'J 
factory,  and  were  quite  successful,  at  Black  Hawk,  Wiscon- 
sin. A  deficiency  in  their  water-supply  seems  to  have  been 
their  greatest  drawback. 

The  largest  and  most  successful  experiment  was  institu- 
ted in  California.  In  1860  Mr.  Speckman  made  an  attempt 
at  beet  culture  near  San  Francisco.  The  soil  was  not  suit- 
able and  he  abandoned  the  enterprise.  In  1869  Mr.  Went- 
worth  instituted  another  experiment  at  Alvarado,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  extracting  from  his  beets  several  hundred  pounds 


((24) 

of  sugar.  Capitalists  became  interested  and  a  company 
was  formed  which,  under  the  management  of  General 
Huchison,  has  had  quite  a  success.  The  two  German  ex- 
perimenters from  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin,  Messrs.  Bone- 
steel  and  Otto,  were  taken  into  the  company,  as  already 
stated.  Drought  and  other  causes  interfered  with  their  suc- 
cess at  times,  but  in  1871  they  reported  an  average  yield  of 
15  tons  of  beets  per  acre,  and  a  product  of  1,000,000  pounds 
of  sugar.  Another  company  is  now  formed  in  California, 
and  the  industry  seems  to  have  gained  more  of  a  foothold 
on  the  Pacific  coast  tlian  elsewhere. 

Besides  the  above  experiments  many  individuals  have 
raised  the  beet  and  extracted  the  sugar  on  a  smaller  scale. 
Prof.  Goessman,  with  apparatus  improvised  for  the  occa- 
sion, obtained  a  yield  of  from  8  to  9  per  cent,  of  sugar  from 
beets  grown  in  Massachusetts,  or  at  the  rate  of  nearly  2,000 
pounds  of  sugar  per  acre. 

The  number  of  failures  to  make  the  business  pay  has 
been  due  to  a  variety  of  causes;  prominent  among  them  a 
lack  of  sufficient  capital  to  outlive  the  unavoidable  dela3's 
and  expense  of  getting  a  good  start,  neglecting  to  determine 
beforehand  how  cheaply  a  good  beet  can  be  raised,  &c.,  &c. 
Bad  management,  too,  had  its  share  of  the  blame.  One 
company  failed,  I  am  told,  because  they  selected  for  the  site 
of  their  works  the  summit  of  a  hill ;  very  picturesque,  to 
be  sure,  and  giving  a  fine  outlook  over  their  acres  of  grow- 
ing beets,  but  unfortunately  the  extra  expense  of  carting  all 
their  fael  and  beets  uj)  hilj  and  pumping  up  all  their  water 
ate  up  the  profits,  and  the  company  failed.  Another  com- 
pany bought  the  works,  moved  them  down  the  hill  and  are 
now  said  to  be  doing  tolerably  well. 

There  are  many  sanguine  people  both  in  tiiis  country 
and  in  Europe  who  point  to  the  sugar  beet  industr}'  as  one 
•of  great  importance  to  America,  and  embodying  the  poten- 
tial flemcnts  of  great  wealth  to  our  people.  And  they  point 


(25) 


to  our  climate,  soils  and  improving  methods  of  agriculture ; 
to  the  comparatively  limited  area  where  the  cane  can  thrive, 
in  support  of  their  views.  But  there  are  others  who  point 
to  the  price  of  labor,  the  expensive  processes  compared  with 
those  necessary  for  the  raising  and  working  up  of  the  sugar 
cane,  and  the  small  profits  now  being  made  by  our  cane 
sugar  manufacturers  and  refiners,  and  declare  the  whole 
idea  a  snare  and  a  delusion. 

To  show  the  profit  and  loss  side  of  the  question,  I  will 
append  a  calculation  made  by  Mr.  H.  P.  Humphrey,  of 
Philadelphia,  a  distinguished  sugar  chemist,  who  has  given 
much  thought  and  time  to  the  subject.  He  has  addressed 
a  circular  to  capitalists  and  others  in  the  hope  that  a  care- 
ful and  thorough  experiment,  backed  by  capital,  may  be 
made  to  prove  finally  the  possibility  or  impossibility  of 
planting  this  new  industry  firmly  in  our  midst. 

After  quoting  the  statistics  I  have  already  recorded  to 
show  the  amount  of  beet  sugar  produced  in  the  world  in 
1865-76,  Mr.  Humphrey  goes  on  to  say  : 

"  The  following  table  represents  the  statistics  of  the  Ger- 
man Empire  in  regard  to  the  beet  sugar  industry,  as  gath- 
ered from  data  in  "Stammer's  Jahresbericht,"  the  most  re- 
liable authority  obtainable  : 


1 

lb 

^1 

2 

p 

< 

Amount 

Molasses         os 
Centners. 

4 

5 

6 

I 

c  i 

7 

m 
ill 

z°3 

1836-37 

506,923 
5,131,516 
5,633,848 
27,550,208 
.50,712,709 
70,575,000 
55,072,412 

28,162 

284,102 

402,418 

2,071..579 

4,024,818 
5,779,442 

21,789 

5.5 

18. 

1841-42 

.59 

3.54 

14.16 

17.75 
18.93 
18.93 

1846-'47  .... 

1856-'57 

1866-'67  .... 
1873-'74 

169,615 

633,678 
1,242,461 

200,000 

3,912,271 

10,001,508 

13,389,827 

10,525,207 

7.14 

7.52 

7.9 

8  2 

14. 
13. 
12.6 

19,  9 

1874-'75  .... 

5,011,.589 



9.ll    10.99 

(26) 

Column  1  shows  the  advance  which  has  been  made  in  the 
industry  since  183G.  Columns  4  and  5  show  the  tax  which 
has  been  levied  and  the  amounts  which  have  been  realized 
by  the  Government.  The  average  yield  of  an  acre  in  Ger- 
many is  11.7  tons.  The  tax  paid  upon  this  quantity  is  $45. 
This  amount  would  be  a  great  offset  to  the  greater  cost  of 
cultivation  in  this  country.  No  data  can  be  found  to  estab- 
lish at  what  price  beets  may  be  raised  here.  Estimates 
have  been  given,  which  vary  all  the  way  from  sixt3'-four 
cents  to  four  dollars  a  ton.  The  average  of  the  results  of 
the  experience  of  eighteen  persons  is  two  dollars  and  forty- 
two  cents  per  ton.  (See  "Scientific  American,"  April  Hd, 
1869.)  These  estimates,  I  think,  should  not  be  relied  on, 
as  the  cost  would  probably  reach  three  dollars  per  ton  ; 
there  are  also  no  sufficient  data  to  show  the  amount  of  beet 
roots  which  can  be  raised  to  acre  in  this  country. 

The  following  tables  will  elucidate  these  points  as  regards 
Germany,  France  and  Russia.  These  estimates  were  made 
some  j'ears  ago,  but  will  serve  to  give  a  general  idea  of  the 
amount  raised  per  acre : 

COST   OF  PRODUCTION   AND  THE  DIVISION  OP  EXPENSES  INCITKRED 
PER  ACRE. 

GERMANY.  FRANCE.  RUSSIA. 

Rent  and  manure $  18.73  )  $  38.31  $  12.39 

Cost  of  production 14.28)          12.39 

Tax 42.30  49.58  13.52 

Cost  of  manufacture 50.47  69.11  50.70 

$  125.78  $  157.00  $  89.00 

Tons  of  beets  per  acre 11.6               17.9  9.2 

Per  cent,  sugar  extracted —          8.                   6.  6. 
Pounds  sugar  extracted  per 

acre 2,078             2,403  1.236 

By  reference  to  column  6  of  preceding  table  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  amount  of   sugar  extracted  is  nine  and  one- 


(27) 

tenth  per  cent,  which  is  the  amount  extracted  at  the  date- 
of  this  latter  table. 

I  would  also  call  your  attention  to  columns  6  and  7,  as- 
showing  the  gradual  increase  in  the  extraction  of  sugar 
from  the  beet,  owing  to  the  production  of  a  better  quality 
of  beet,  as  well  as  the  improvements  made  in  ihe  method 
of  manufacture.  As  regards  the  possibility  of  our  being 
able  to  raise  a  beet  of  good  quality,  there  is  very  little  doubt 
when  we  consider  that  excellent  sugar  beets  have  been  pro- 
duced here  experimentally,  and  that  the  beet  flourishes  in 
Europe  in  such  a  variety  of  climate,  from  Italy  to  Russia 
and  Sweden.  In  Sweden,  where  the  season  is  very  shorty 
beets  having  a  high  per  cent,  of  sugar  are  produced  in  pay- 
ing quantities.  I  would  again  refer,  whilst  considering  the 
probability  of  the  production  of  the  beet  at  a  suflficiently  low 
figure,  to  the  enormous  sum  paid  as  tax — from  ^34  to  $54 
per  acre. 

As  regards  the  comparative  yield  of  the  beet  and  cane  : 
In  Louisana  the  average  yield  per  acre  is  about  seventeen 
tons,  and  five  per  cent-  is  extracted  : 

pounds. 
Amount  of  sugar  produced  per  acre  in  Louisiana,  1,904. 
Amount  of  sugar  produced   per   acre  in  foreign 

cane  districts, 1,600  to  4,800. 

Amount  of  beet  sugar  produced  per  acre  in  Ger- 
many,         2,078. 

Amount  of  beet  sugar  produced  per  acre  in  France,        2,403. 

Russia,  1,236. 
Only  one-eighth  of  the  amount  of  sugar  consumed  in  the 
United  States  in  1875  was  prqduced  in  Louisiana. 

The  following  is  an  estimate  which  I  have  made  upon  the 
probable  returns  of  a  manufactory  consuming  fifteen 
million  pounds  of  beets  in  one  hundred  days.  The  manu- 
factory would  cost  about  sixty  thousand  dollars.  Stock  of 
bone  black  (75,000  lbs)  $2,250. 


(28) 

EXPENSES. 

16,350  days   labor    at   $1.20    $19,610 

Superintendent, 3,000 

1  boiler, 1,500 

1  defecator, 1,200 

Book-keeper  and  clerk,  3,000  

Engineer,    1,000 

Carpenter,  &c., 1,000 

Total  skill  labor $10,700 

1,100  tons  of  coal  at....  $3.50    3,850 

Taxes,  Insurance, 2,000 

Bone  black  loss 750 

4,500  bushels  of  lime  at  $28      1,260 

Int.  on  working  capital              3,500 

6,696  tons  beets  at $4        26,784 

Incidentals,  10,000 

Interest  on  plant 4,200 


Interest,  total, $28,654 


1,200,000  lbs.  8  per  cent.,  yield  at  $8.25,  ...  $99,000 

1,227  tons  of  press  cake  at  $4  a  ton, 4,908 

Molasses, 1,825 

Residues  as  fertilizeis,  1,500 


Total,  $107,233 

Total  expenses, 82,654 

Profit, $24,579 

I  have  considered  four  dollars  per  ton  a  fair  price  to  pay 


(29) 

the  farm  for  the  beets.  Should  it  be  possible  to  raise  the 
beets  for  three  dollars  a  ton,  there  would  be  for  a  farm  of 
578  acres  the  net  profit  of  $6,704  which  is  to  be  added  to  the 
above  profit  if  the  manufacturer  cultivates  his  own  beets. 
8i  cents  per  pound  is  a  low  estimate  for  raw  sugar.  Sev- 
eral refiners  whom  I  have  consulted  consider  the  value  to 
be  8f  cents.  I  have  considered  the  yield  of  sugar  as  8  per 
cent.,  although  last  year  in  Germany  in  was  9  1-0  per  cent. 

I  have  calculated  the  press  cake  as  worth  four  dollars  per 
ton.  This  is  a  low  estimate,  Dr.  Goessmann,  a  gentleman 
who  is  perhaps  better  acquainted  than  any  one  in  the  coun- 
try with  the  facts  which  bear  upon  the  industry,  considers 
that  the  value  of  the  press  cake  is  $17.40  per  acre.  This 
would  make  the  total  amount  for  578  acres  $9,157  instead 
of  $4,908.  I  have  thought  better  to  choose  the  latter  sum, 
as  there  would  be  a  certain  prejudice  to  be  overcome  before 
the  farmers  would  be  willing  to  pay  the  real  value. 

The  foregoing  are  a  few  of  the  facts  which  I  have  chosen 
to  present  to  you,  and  which  have  been  carefully  selected, 
and  I  think  in  respect  to  the  estimates,  fairly  stated.  My 
views  as  regards  the  establishment  of  this  industry  are  as 
follows : 

Starting  out  with  the  idea  that  the  important  point  to  be 
established  is,  how  cheaply  can  beets  of  good  quality  be 
produced  in  this  country,  I  would  have  a  company  formed 
of  capitalists  who  are  willing,  if  the  preliminary  experi- 
ments should  prove  successful,  to  furnish  about  $150,000- 
capital.  Two  or  three  farms  of  from  twenty  to  twenty-five 
acres  should  be  hired,  in  sections  where  the  climate  and 
soil  appear  favorable.  These  should  be  cultivated  at  least 
two  years  with  beets  according  to  the  methods  adopted  in 
Germany  and  France.  It  appears  to  me  of  no  use  to  trust 
the  raising  of  beets  to  farmers  alone.  The  experiment  has 
been  tried  repeatedly  and  it  has  proved  almost  impossible 
to  overcome  their  prejudice  as  regards  the  proper  method 


(30) 

of  cultivation.  The  amount  of  beets  produced,  the  per. 
cent,  of  saccharine  matter,  &c.,  and  the  total  cost  should  be 
carefully  noted.  If  it  was  desired,  the  raw  sugar  could  be 
extracted,  although  this  is  not  essential,  as  the  subject  has 
been  so  well  studied  abroad  that  the  amount  of  sugar  ob- 
tainable from  a  beet  of  a  certain  quality  could  be  very 
closely  estimated.  From  these  experiments  the  amount 
and  cost  of  raising  the  beet  could  be  fairly  calculated ;  if 
the  results  should  be  satisfactory,  the  land  could  be  pur- 
chased and  the  manufactory  built.  The  experiment  would 
not  be  expensive,  as  the  crop  of  beets  could  be  sold  and  go 
far  to  repay  the  outlay.  It  is  of  course  not  probable  that  as 
satisfactory  results  as  are  figured  will  be  obtained  for  several 
jears,  but  there  seems  to  be  little  doubt  that  Government 
^nd  State  aid  might  be  obtained.  Already  in  Canada  they 
liave  offered  $7,000  a  year  and  exemption  from  taxes  for 
ten  years  to  the  first  manufacturer.  In  Maine  the  same  in- 
ducements are  offered,  one  cent  a  pound  until  the  amount 
reaches  $7,000 ;  with  that  surety  capital  would  run  small 
risk  in  making  the  venture." 

I  have  no  doubt  at  all  that  such  experiments  as  Mr. 
Humphrey  proposes  will  be  undertaken,  and  why  shall  not 
Korth  Carolina  prove  so  alluring  a  field  that  they  will  be 
undertaken  here? 

THE  SUGAR  BEET  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

It  was  without  doubt  an  easy  conclusion  to  reach  that 
somewhere  within  the  ample  borders  of  the  "  Old  North 
State"  the  sugar  beet — or  indeed  almost  any  other  plant — 
might  find  itself  at  home,  and  prosper,  embracing  as  she 
does  nearly  every  variety  of  climate,  and  infinite  diversity 
■of  soil,  with  an  average  temperature  corresponding  with 
that  of  the  best  beet  growing  portions  of  Europe. 


(31) 

These  and  other  natural  advantages, together  with  the 
results  of  a  small  experiment  made  in  Wake  county  in  1876, 
induced  the  Department  of  Agriculture  to  institute  the  ex- 
periment on  a  broader  field,  and  with  this  end  in  view, they 
procured  from  a  reliable  source  a  quantity  of  seed  of  two 
kinds  :  the  French  or  "  Vilmorin,"  and  the  Silesian  or  "  Im- 
perial," These  seeds  were  sent  out  to  100  prominent  far- 
mers, in  34  counties,  embracing  nearly  every  variety  of  soil 
and  climate  represented  in  the  State.  The  following  in- 
structions were  sent  out  wdtli  the  seeds: 

"Circular  to  Experimenters  in  Sugar  Beets. 

NORTH  CAROLINA,  ) 

DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE,        ^ 

Raleigh,  April  20th,  1877.  ) 
Sir  : — Encouraged  by  the  results  of  an  experiment,  made 
in  Wake  county  last  year  with  the  sugar  beet,  the  Board  of 
Agriculture  were  induced  to  buy  a  lot  of  imported  seeds  for 
purposes  of  experiment  in  different  sections  of  our  State.  It 
is  confidently  believed,  that  should  a  fair  test  be  made  the 
result  would  show,  that  here,  as  in  France  and  Germany, 
it  would  be  one  of  the  most  profitable  industries  of  our 
people.  Nearly  half  the  sugar  consumed  by  the  civilized 
world  is  made  from  the  beet  and  it  is  thought  that  the 
adaptability  of  our  soil  and  climate  to  its  successful  culture, 
would  at  no  distant  day,  place  our  State  on  the  list  as 
among  the  largest  producers  of  this  great  commercial  com- 
modity. 

With  the  view  of  introducing  this  important  industry, 
you  have  been  selected  as  a  proper  person  to  test  it  in  your 
county.  The  following  suggestions  we  ask  should  be  ob- 
served rigidly,  as  they  are  founded  on  the  experience  of  50 
years  in  Europe,  and  are  indispensable  to  success. 

Soils. — Newly  cleared,  heavy  clay,  wet  or  salt  lands  are 


(32) 

unsuited  to  the  beet— any  good  wheat  lands,  light,  rich  and 
loamy ;  or  in  other  words,  any  place  that  would  make  a 
good  garden  spot  would  suit  the  beet. 

Preparation  and  Manure. — Plough  or  spade  at  least  15 
inches  deep,  and  pulverize  thoroughly,  putting  on  broad- 
cast any  commercial  fertilizer  known  to  be  good  for  vege- 
tables, at  the  rate  of  400  pounds  per  acre,  or  ashes  at  the 
rate  of  25  bushels  per  acre.  Be  sure  not  to  use  stable  or  barn- 
yard manure.  The  object  of  deep  cultivation  is  to  cause  the 
beet-root  to  grow  entirely  below  the  surface,  the  part  above 
being  injurious  to  sugar  making,  and  if  the  root  should 
grow  above  the  surface  it  must  be  kept  covered  with  earth. 

Seed-planting. — Soak  in  water  24  hours,  and  as  soon  as  you 
see  signs  of  sprouting  roll  them  in  wood  ashes  or  plaster, 
and  plant  not  more  than  one  inch  deep,  and  thick  enough 
in  the  drill  to  leave  the  plants  from  8  to  12  inches  apart  af- 
ter thinning.  Have  the  rows  from  18  to  22  inches  apart 
Remember  that  large  beets  are  poor  in  sugar,  and  it  is  the 
percentage  of  sugar  ice  wish  to  determine. 

Cultivation. — Should  be  deep  and  thorough,  and  should 
begin  as  early  as  practicable,  keeping  the  ground  loose  and 
clear  of  weeds — thinning  out  or  transplanting  as  may  be 
required  to  secure  a  proper  stand. 

Maturity  of  Beet. — This  will  be  ordinarilly  about  five 
months  after  planting.  The  proper  time  for  gathering  may 
be  ascertained  by  the  leaves  turning  yellow  or  looking 
flabby — or  perhaps  better  still  by  cutting  a  root  in  slices 
with  an  iron  knife,  and  if  the  surface  cut  does  not  change 
its  color,  or  if  any,  but  little,  it  is  time  to  take  them  up.  If, 
however,  the  surface  should  turn  first  red,  then  brown,  and 
finally  quite  dark  it  is  too  soon.  In  harvesting,  particular 
care  should  be  taken  not  to  cut  or  bruise  them,  and  they 
would  do  better,  if  the  weather  be  favorable,  to  lay  them  in 
piles  on  the  ground,  and  cover  with  the  tops  to  protect  them 
from  the  sun,  for  three  or  four  days. 


(33) 

Presercatlon—h\  our  climate  the  usual  methods  a(l(»[)te«i 
for  keeping  the  ordinary  beet  or  potatoes  will  answer. 

lleport  to  be  31ade. — You  will  please  keep  correct  notes  of 
your  process  of  treatment  from  the  time  you  begin  the  pre- 
paration of  the  ground— kind  of  soil  and  subsoil — kind  and 
quality  of  manure  used — mode  of  cultivation — estimate  of 
the  number  of  bushels  per  acre,  &c. 

It  is  exceedingly  important  that  this  report   be   correct 

Packing  the  Lot  for  Analysis. — As  soon  as  you  gather  them, 
you  will  select  carefully  not  less  than  two  bushels,  taking 
particular  care  to  select  such  as  have  the  roots  and  tops  entire 
and  imbrulsed,  and  that  are  of  average  si::e  and  well  matured. 
Do  not  wash  them,  but  rid  them  of  the  dirt  as  best  you  can 
without  breaking  the  roots,  and  pack  them  in  a  good  strong 
crate  or  box,  so  made  as  to  admit  passage  of  air.  Mark  the 
box  plainly,  "  Department  of  Agriculture,''  Raleigh,  N.  C,  and 
send  it  by  Express.  We  will  pay  all  charges.  In  packing 
use  green  leaves  or  grass.  This  lot  is  designed  for  analysis 
by  the  Agricultural  Chemist,  and  whatever  expense  is  in- 
curred in  packing  and  shipping  will  be  paid  by  this  De- 
l)artment. 

L.  L.  POLK,  Commissioner:' 

As  already  stated,  we  are  disappointed  in  the  meagre  re- 
turns received  and  the  general  low  per  centage  of  sugar 
obtained.  As  will  be  seen  from  the  letters  of  some  of  the 
experimenters,  there  are  several  general  reasons  for  these 
results;  unfavorable  season,  the  ravages  of  insects,  &c.,  &c. 
While  the  unavoidable  but  unfortunate  delay  in  sending 
out  the  seeds  is  another  cause  of  the  comparative  failure. 

I  will  now  give  the  results  of  my  analyses  of  the  samples 
received. 


(84) 

ANALYSES. 

In  eacli  case  I  have  determined  : 

(1.)  The  weight  of  the  beets. 

(2.)  Specific  gravity  of  tlie  juice. 

(3.)  Water  in  the  juice. 

(4.)  Cane  sugar  in  the  juice. 

•(5.)  Substances  in  juice  other  thaii  cane  sugar  (by  dif- 
ference.) 

The  beets  were  carefully  cleansed  by  brushing  and  rub- 
bing, without  washing,  and  grated  by  hand  on  a  large  tin 
grater.  The  pulp  was  subjected  to  pressure  in  thick  cloths, 
or  in  an  iron  screw  press. 

The  method  of  analysis  was,  briefly,  as  follows:  The 
water  was  determined  in  the  usual  w^ay  by  heating  a  certain 
portion  mixed  witli  a  weiglited  amount  of  pure,  dry  sand, 
at  212°  F.  until  the  w^eight  remained  constant. 

The  sugar  Avas  determined  in  an  accurately  measured  por- 
tion of  the  juice  by  means  of  an  excellent  "  polariscope."* 

The  determinations  Avere  duplicated  in  almost  every  case, 
and  the  figures  given  are  the  average  of  all  observations. 


Raised  by  I\Ir.  J.   0.   Pass,  Faison's,  Duplin  county.     Re- 
(^eived  in  September. 

Weight  of  largest ISiozs. 

"  "    smallest 6|    " 

Average  of  twenty  beets 9.G    " 


-lam  deeply  indebted  to  Dr.  Arno  Behr,  of  the  sugar  refinery  of 
Messrs.  Matthiessen  &  Wiecliers.  Jersey  City,  for  the  loan  of  a  valuable 
iustrument,  by  which  I  was  enabled  to  commence  work  promptly 
without  annoyance  from  a  delay  in  receiving  tlie  instrument  ordered 
by  the  Department  from  Dr.  Scheibler,  of  Berlin. 


(35) 


Specilic  gravity  of  juice 1.0417 

PER   CENT. 

Water 86.G3 

Sugar 6.46 

Solids  other  than  sugar 6.91 


100.00 


A  "check"  analysis  on  a  second  lot  of  the  same  beets  gave 
the  following  results: 

Specific  gravity 1.0396 

Svgar 6.44  perct. 

Mr.  J.  C.  Pass  reports  upon  this  lot  raised  by  him  as  fol- 
lows : 

'*  It  is  possible  that  the  soil  on  which  the  beets  were 
planted,  though  well  drained  and  very  fertile,  contains  an 
excess  of  saline  and  alkaline  substances.  The  specimen  sent 
is  not  above  the  average. 

Land  planted,  40x89  feet,  (1-12  acre.) 

Fertilizers  used,  acid  phosphate  (Navassa),  40  lbs.;  wood 
ashes,  about  one  bushel. 

Quality  of  land,  rich  loam. 

Mode  of  preparation,  flushed  with  a  one-horse  plow  and 
sub-soiled  15  inches  deep,  and  thrown  into  ridges  22  inches 
apart. 

Quantity  of  seed  sown,  quarter  of  a  pound,  less  one  table- 
spoonful.  Seeds  put  into  water  to  soak  the  25th  April, 
rolled  in  wood  ashes  and  planted  the  26th  and  lightly  cov- 
ered, from  which  a  stand  of  about  85  per  cent,  was  obtained 
(7  inch  drill  space  desired).  The  "re-set  beets  from  thinning 
the  hills  were  of  no  value. 

Cultivation  consisted  in  plowing  one  time  and  hoe-worked 
four  times. 


(3G) 

The  cut-worm  attacked  the  plants  in  spring.  Some  of  the 
tubers  commenced  decaying  in  the  latter  part  of  July. 

The  bugs  attacked  the  tops  about  the  middle  of  August, 
and  have  proved  about  as  destructive  to  beet  tops  as  the 
army  worm  to  the  cotton  plant. 

Dug  910  lbs.  of  roots,  including  debris  of  tops  loft  by  the- 
bugs." 

LOT  No   2, 

Raised  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Pelletier,  Morehead  city,  Beaufort 
county.     Received  in  September. 

Total  weight Tibs. 

Weight  of  largest 1  lb.  2^  ozs. 

"         "    smallest 5J  ozs. 

Average  of  10  11  2  " 

Specific  gravity  of  juice 1.0390 

TKB   CENT. 

Water 87.28 

Sugar 5.12 

Solids  other  than  sugar 7.60 

100.00 

Mr.  Pelletier  reports  as  follows  : 

*'  Received  seed,  May  8th,  1877. 

Soil,  gray  sand,  with  yellow  sub-soil 

(Preparation,  broke  up  ten  inches  deep. 

Manured  with  ashes  at  the  rate  of  20  bushels  per  acre,, 
with  same  amount  of  cotton  seed.  Planted  seed  11th  May, 
in  drills  two  feet  apart  and  ten  inches  in  drill. 

Cidtivation. — Plowed  25th  May,  ]  6tb  June,  9th  July  and 
28th  July,  with  a  small  turn  plow,  and  followed  each  plow- 
ing with  hoe. 

Yield,  150  bu.sluls  per  acre. 

I  have  no  experience  in  raising  the  sugar  beet,  but  the 
-ordinary  beet,  planted  the   first  of    March,  would  yield  at 


(37) 


least  twice  as  large  a  crop  as  when  planted  the  11th  of  May. 
The  land  should  have  been  plowed  at  least  a  month  before 
planting." 

Mr.  J.  H.  Swindell  writes  as  follows  : 

*'  I  turned  over  my  seed  to  Mr.  John  W.  Pelletier,  one  of 
the  best  farmers  of  our  section.  I  would  add  to  Mr.  Pelle- 
tier's  report  that  we  have  had  this  season  entirely  too  much 
rain  for  beets  to  do  well.  I  am  satisfied  he  would  have  done 
much  better  but  for  this  and  not  having  received  the  seed 
■earlier." 

LOT  No.  3. 

Raised  by  James  Norwood,  Esq.  Hillsboro,'  Orange  county. 
Keceived  in  September. 

Total  weight 25|  lbs. 

Weight  of  largest 3    " 

"         "    smallest 1    " 

Average  weight  of    13 "2    " 

:Specilic  gravity  of  juice 1.0322 

P*R   CENT. 

Water , 88.54 

^uf/ar 10.24 

.Solids  other  than  sugar 1.22 

100.00 

Mr.  Norwood  reports  as  follows : 

"  Planted  on  the  27th  April,  the  seed  already  sprouted,  on 
■a  piece  of  ground  5  by  33  yards,  in  rows  2|  feet  apart ; 
when  about  an  inch  high  gave  a  dressing  of  2  bushels  of 
lialf-slacked  ashes  along  the  line  of  plants,  and  thinned 
them  to  12  inches  apart ;  then  with  a  good  cultivator  stirred 
the  ashes  well  in.  About  a  month  afterwards,  sowed  2  bushels 
of  ashes  broadcast  and  gave  the  patch  a  deep  and  thorough 
stirring  with  a  cultivator.  Aftervrards  kept  the  weeds  and 
grass  out. 


(38) 

The  piece  of  land  is  not  rich,  would  bring  4  barrels  of 
corn  to  the  acre,  is  red  clay  soil ;  no  sand  in  it ;  was  twice 
ploughed  in  the  last  of  the  winter,  and  thoroughly  broken 
up  9  inches  deep. 

I  will  deliver  a  sample  of  the  beets,  and  you  will  find 
them  too  large,  probably:" 

LOT  No   4, 

Raised  by  Capt.  Jno.  Ilutchins,  4  miles  from  Chapel  Hill, 
Orange  county. 

Total  weight 14^  lbs. 

Weight  of  largest 4      " 

"  "    smallest 1^    " 

Average  weight  of  G 2|    " 

Specific  gravity  of  juice 1.0408 

PER  CENT. 

Water 90.08 

Sugar 4.55 

Solids  other  than  sugar 5.37 

100.00 

Capt.  Ilutchins  reports  that  he  did  not  attend  to  the 
planting  or  cultivation  of  the  beets  in  person — in  fact  did 
not  know  they  were  on  his  plantation  until  ready  to  pull. 
They  were  planted  in  rich  bottom  land,  and  had  little  or  no 
care. 

L<  )T  No.  5, 

■    Raised  by  Mr.  II.  W.  Ledbetter,  Wadesboro,  Anson  county. 

Total  weight 18^  lbs. 

Weight  of  largest 3      " 

"         "    smallest 1      " 

Average  of  11 , 2      " 

Specific  gravity  of  juice 1.0248 


(39) 

PER  CENT. 

Wate?' 89.79 

Sugar 4.30 

Solids  other  than  sugar 5.91 

100.00 

"I  have  taken  up,  placed  in  a  box, and  will  ship  in  a  few 
days,  as  directed,  J  bushel  of  the  sugar  beets.  As  you  know 
I  did  not  get  the  seed  until  May — they  should  have  been 
planted  several  weeks  sooner — I  planted  six  short  rows  in 
my  sweet  potato  patch,  a  light  loam,  rather  sandy.  Phmted 
11th  of  May,  used  Whann's  Raw  Bone  Superphosphate  in 
drill,  about  300  lbs  per  acre,  gave  same  cultivation  as  I  did 
cotton  adjoining.  There  came  up  about  half  stand,  and 
grew  finely  ;  had  no  rain  until  3rd  of  June.  New  beets  came 
np,  the  older  ones  were  then  about  G  inches  high ;  the 
younger  ones  never  did  much,  the  sun  was  too  hot  for  them. 
The  beets  seemed  to  do  well  until  the  dry  hot  weather  oi 
August,  when  the  tops  seemed  to  die  and  fall  off.  They  art.- 
putting  out  again  new,  and  seem  to  be  taking  tlie  second 
growth.  I  estimated  the  yield  to  be  about  210  bushels  per 
acre.  If  planted  earlier,  wiih  suitable  preparation  of  good 
manure,  and  good  cultivation,  the  yield  vv'ould  have  been  3 
times  as  large.  The  land  has  a  clay  sub-soil,  red,  iit  about 
12  or  14  inches  from  top.  Sorry  I  did  not  get  the  seed  in 
time  to  make  a  more  complete  experiment ;  will  try  again 
next  year." 

LOT  NO.  6. 

Raised  by  Dr.  G.  W.  Blacknall,  Raleigh,  Wake  county. 
Received  in  September  : 

Total  weight 51|  lbs. 

Weight  of  largest 5|     " 

smallest 3J     " 

Average  weight  of  12 4  lbs.  4  ozs. 

Specific  gravity  of  juice 1.0182 


("40) 


I'BR  CENT. 

Water 92.85 

Sugar 4.55 

Solide  other  than  sugar 2.60 

100.00 

No  report  received. 

LOT  KO.  7. 

Raised  by  Mr.  .John  M.  Crenshaw,  Forestville,  Wake 
county.     Received  in  October. 

Total  weight 26  Iba. 

Weight  of  largest 3     " 

"         smallest f    " 

Averageof22 2     " 

Specific  gravity  of  juice 1.0183 

PKR  CENT. 

^    Water 89.06 

Sugar 6.97 

ii^olids  other  than  sugar 3.97 

100.00 

Mr.  Crenshaw  reports : 

"  They  were  received  late  in  the  season,  without  any  idea 
•of  their  mission,  and  wore  planted  and  not  much  attention 
given  them." 

rOT  NO.  8. 

Raised  by ,    Tarboro,   Edgecombe   county. 

Received  in  October. 

Total  weight 23f  lbs. 

"Weight  of  largest 2    " 

"  smallest I    " 

Average  weight  of  25 1  lb.  6  ozs. 

Specific  gravity  of  juice 1.0498 


41) 


PKR  CBNT. 

Water 87.99 

Sugar 6.30 

Solids  other  than  sugar 5.71 

100.00 
No  report. 

LOT  NO.   9. 

Kaised  by  A.    M.  McPheeters,   Raleigh,   Wake   county 
Received  in  October. 

Total  weight ISJlbs. 

Weight  of  largest lib. 

"          smallest Gozs. 

Average  weight  of  34 11    " 

Specific  gravity  of  juice 1.0378 

PER  CENT. 

Water 86.24 

Sugar , 10.97 

Solids  other  than  sugar  2.79 

100.00 
N'o  report- 

I.OT  NO.    10. 

Raised  by  W.  M.  Blackwell,  Oxford,  Granville  county. 
Received  in  October. 

Total  weight 19^  lbs. 

Weight  of  heaviest IJ  lbs. 

"           lightest 7  ozs. 

Average  weight  of  32 14  ozs. 

Specific  gravity  of  juice • 1.04270 

I'ER  CENT. 

Water 84.90 

Sugar 11.37 

Solids  other  than  sugar 3.67 

100.00 


(42) 

A  check  ana]ysis  oti  another  lot  gave  : 

Specific  gravity 1 .04277 

Sugar 11.46pr.ct. 

Mr  Blackwell  reports : 

"  I  plowed  the  land  about  six  inches  deep  with  a  cast 
turning  plow,  and  followed  in  the  same  furrow  with  a 
coulter,  breaking  the  land  about  14  or  15  inches  deep,  and 
applied  700  lbs.  to  the  acre  of  "Dixon's  Compound,"  com- 
posed of  equal  parts  of  Peruvian  guano,  dissolved  bone,  plas- 
ter and  salt.  I  planted  the  seed  the  4th  of  May.  As  soon 
as  necessary,  I  thinned  them  to  8  or  10  inches  apart  in  the 
drill,  rows  22  inches  apart.  The  first  working  was  done 
with  a  harrow,  the  second  Avorking  a  small  turning  plow 
was  run,  throwing  one  furrow  to  the  beets,  and  harrow  in 
middle  of  the  row,  which  was  all  the  plowing  I  did  to  them  ; 
each  time  the  hoes  followed  the  plow,  chopping  out  all 
grass  and  weeds,  and  leaving  the  land  nearly  level.  The 
seed  was  planted  on  sandy  soil  with  yellow  clay  (subsoil?) 
The  yield  was  only  140  bushels  to  the  acre.  We  had  the 
worst  seasons  I  ever  saw,  owing  to  excessive  wet.  My 
crops  of  all  kinds  were  seriously  injured,  as  we  had  more  rain 
in  my  immediate  neighborhood  than  any  other  part  of  the 
country  I  gave  one  of  my  neighbors,  W,  B.  Crews,  some 
of  the  seed,  and  his  land  Avas  better  adapted  to  beets  than 
mine,  he  using  ashes  as  a  fertilizer,  his  yield  was  2o0  bushels 
to  the  acre." 

LOT  NO.  11. 

Raised  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Wilson,  Morganton,  Burke  county 
Received  in  October. 

Total  weight 30 J  lbs. 

Weight  of  largest 3    " 

"  smallest |    " 

Average  weight  of  24 If   " 

Specific  gravity  of  juice 1.0175 


(43) 

I'ER  cent: 

Water 92.14 

Sugar 5.91 

Solids  other  than  sugar l.^o- 

lOO.OO 
No  Report. 

LOT  NO.  12. 

Raised   by ,  Chapel   Hill,   Orange   county^ 

Received  in  November. 

Total  weight 49  lbs, 

AVeight  of  largest 2|     " 

smallest 12ozs, 

Average  weight  of  36  llb.l2ozs.. 

Specific  gravity  of  juice  1.0247 

PER  CEST.. 

Water 94.07 

Sugar 3.35 

Solids  other  than  sugar  2.58 

lOO.OO 

These  beets  were  grown  upon  very  rich  soil,  (in  a  garden 
spot)  and  were  fertilized  with  ashes. 

LOT  NO.  13. 

Raised  by  J.  W.  Wissler,   Lockville,   Chatham   countT. 
Received  in  November,  marked  "Imperial,  No.  4." 

Total  weight,  (but  2  in  the  lot)  . .-. 4  lbs. 

Average  weight 2  lb&. 

Specific  gravity  of  juice 1.0396 


(44) 

PBR  CBKT. 

"Water 90.99 

Sugar 5.51 

Solids  other  than  sugar 3.50 

100.00 

Mr.  Wissler  sends  samples  of  6  lots,  and  his  report  accom- 
panying them  will  be  given  after  the  analysis  of  all  the 
samples. 

I.OT  NO.  U. 

Raised  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Wissler,  Lockville,  Chatham,  coun- 
ty. Received  in  November,  and  marked  "  French,  No.  2,' 
only  tv^o  beets  in  the  lot. 

Average  weight 1  lb.  6  ozs. 

Specific  gravity  of  juice 1.0501 

Check    ^    ''        "     " 1.0502 

PER  CBNT. 

Water 85.47 

Sugar 10.82 

Solids  other  than  sugar 3.71 

100.00 

I.OT  NO.  15. 

Raised  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Wissler,  at  Endor  Furnace,  (near 
Egypt)  Chatham  county.  Received  in  November,  and 
marked  "  Imperial  No.  6,"  only  two  in  lot. 

Average  weight llb.9|ozs. 

Specific  gravity  of  juice 1.0880 

I'ER  CENT. 

Water 91.83 

Sugar 527 

.Solids  other  than  sugar 3.40 

100.00 


(45) 


LOT  NO.  10. 

Raised  by  Mr.  J,  AV.  Wissler,  at  Lockville,  Chatham 
county.  Received  in  November,  and  marked  ■'  Imperial 
No.  ] ,"  two  in  lot. 

Average  weight 1  lb.  10|ozs. 

Specific  gravity  of  juice  1.0307 

PER  CENT, 

Water 03.21 

Suf/ar 5.27 

Solids  other  than  sugar T. 1 .52 

100. 00 

Lor  NO.  17. 

Raised  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Wissler,  at  Lockville,  Chatham 
count}'.  Received  in  November,  and  marked  "  French  No. 
5,"  two  in  lot. 

Average  weight  1 1  lbs. 

Specific  gravity  of  juice  1.0522 

I'KR  CENT, 

Water 87.61 

Sugar 11.22 

Solids  other  than  sugar 1.17 


100.00 


LOT  No.  li. 


Raised  by  Mr.  Wissler,  at  Lockville,  Chatham  county, 
Rtcjived  in  November,  and  marked  "French  No.  3.''  Tivo 
in  lot. 

Average  weight 1  lb.  5  oz.?. 

Specific  gravity  of  juice 1.043G 


(46) 

PER  CENT, 

Water 90.08 

Sugar 7.14 

Solids  other  than  sugar  2.78 


100.00 


Mr.  Wissler  reports  as  follows: 

'^No.  1,  (Lot  No.  16),  is  the  Imperial  seed,  put  in  soak  on 
the  11th  of  May  and  planted  on  the  12th,  in  a  lot  on  river 
<(Igw  ground).  This  piece  of  ground  had  been  used  for 
several  years  as  a  cucumber  patch.  Top-dressed  heavily 
with  "  Phuine."  Plowed  deep  (about  10  inches)  first  time, 
on  the  11th,  and  again  on  the  12th,  before  planting.  The 
.gro'iind  was  nicely  pulverized  and  in  good  condition  for 
^planting.  After  planting  on  the  12th  (May)  we  had  no  rain 
until  the  9th  ©f  June,  when  they  came  up  nicely,  and  I  had 
them  replanted,  when  it  again  got  dry,  and  I  suppose  we  had 
no  rain  for  at  least  six  weeks.  Owing  to  this,  I  failed  in 
lifiving  a  stand  anywhere. 

I  worked  the  beets  about  the  same  as  I  would  a  crop  of 
corn-  After  the  season  got  better  they  commenced  growing 
and  were  still  growing  finely  when  I  had  them  pulled  up  on 
the  23d  of  October.  On  that  night  v/e  had  a  heavy  frost, 
and  I  was  fearful  it  might  injure  them  to  leave  them  stand 
longer. 

ISTo.  2,  (Lot  No.  14),  is  the  French  Beet,  planted  on  same 
ground,  and  same  as  No.  1. 

No.  3,  (Lot  No.  18),  is  the  French  Beet,  planted  on  same 
day  and  treated  similarly  as  Nos.  1  and  2,  except  that  it  was 
planted  on  a  stiff  clay.  This  lot  had  been  in  clover  for  two 
3'-ears,  heavily  top-dressed  with  stable  manure,  and  broke  up 
about  the  15th  day  of  February,  and  again  top-dressed  with 
^^  Phuine ''  and  plowed  on  tlie  11th  of  May.  Just  before 
planting,  this  ground — owing  to  the  dry  weather — got  so 


(47) 

iiard  that  I  never,  even  by  transplanting,  got  a  stand;  but 
late  in  the  summer  and  fall  they  seemed  to  grow  well. 

No.  4,  (Lot  No.  13),  is  the  Imperial  Beet,  planted  on  same 
ground  as  No.  3,  and  treated  similarly ;  all  these  beets  were 
gathered  on  the  23d  of  October. 

No.  5  is  the  French  Beet,  planted  at  Endor  Furnace, 
^near  Egypt),  on  the  16th  of  May,  on  a  nice,  mellow  soil 
neither  sandy  nor  stiff.  The  ground  had  been  plowed 
about  six  weeks  before,  and  I  had  it  plowed  again  just  be- 
fore planting.  After  drawing  the  furrows  (whi:h  I  did  in 
all  cases  with  a  'scooter'  plow),  I  had  it  well  sprinkled 
with  ashes,  this  being  the  only  fertilizer  used  in  Nos.  5  and 

The  seed  had  been  soaked  forty-eight  hours,  and  was 
nicely  sprouted  when  planted.  If  any  difference,  the  season 
was  drier  at  Endor  than  at  Lockville,  and  yet  I  must  con- 
sider ray  success  the  best  there,  the  beets  growing  smooth 
and  of  a  uniform  size  of  form,  2  to  3  lbs.  each. 

No.  6  is  the  Imperial  Beet,  treated  similar  to  No.  5. 

I  had  still  made  another  experiment  at  Buckhorn,  but 
must  confess  to  a  failure  tliere.  The  beet,  through  neglect 
and  dry  weather  grew  very  slowl}^,  and  was  not  over  half 
pound  beets.in  October,  when  gathered,  and  so  green  that 
they  soon  dried  and  shriveled  up. 

The  last  of  March  or  beginning  of  April  is  the  proper 
time  to  plant  here,  wlien  the  beet  will  have  root  enough  to 
stand  the  drought  and  hot  weather  of  July. 

One  difficulty  I  had  was  to  keep  the  beet  covered,  it  seem- 
ingly having  a  tendency  to  grow  out  of  the  ground  ;  forthis 
reason  I  shall  in  future  plant  three  feet  apart,  instead  of  two, 
as  this  year." 

LOT  No.  19, 

Tliis  was  a  separate  lot  of  7  beets  which  came  in  the  box 
with  Ifr.  Wisskr's  samples.  Whether  a  separate  lot,  or 
merely  specimens  from  the  other  6  lots,  I  could  not  ascer- 
tain, and  so  analyzed  them. 


(48) 

Average  weight 1  lb.  ISozs. 

Specific  gravity  of  juice 1.0421 

I'EE  CKKT. 

Water 90.34 

Sugar 5.96 

Solids  other  than  sugar 3.70 

100.00 

LOT  No.  20, 

Raised  by  Mr.  Columbus  Mills,  Concord,  Cabarrus  county. 

Total  weight 27^  lbs. 

Weight  of  largest 5     " 

"   smallest 2|  " 

Average  weight  of  7 3^  " 

Specific  gravity  of  juice 1.0414 

PKK   CENT. 

Abater 91.23 

Sugar 5.50 

Solids  other  than  sugir 3.27 

100.00 

Mr.  Mills  reports : 

"Planted  the  last  of  April,  and  came  up  sparsely  until 
the  June  rains;  rows  IJ  feet  apart;  ground,  a  rich  loam. 
They  were  worked  according  to  the  French  mode  of  culti- 
vation." 

I.OT  No.  21, 

Raised  by ,  near  Chapel   Hill,   Orange  county. 

Received  December  1st. 

Total  weight 16  lbs. 

Weight  of  largest 2^  '' 

"         "    smallest S  ozs. 

Average  of  12 1|  lbs. 

Specific  gravity  of  juice , 1.0390  (?  ) 


(49) 

PER  CENT . 

Water 89.37 

Sugar.... 7.61 

Solids  other  than  sugar 3.02 


100.00 


No  report. 


CONCLUSION. 


While  some  of  the  lots  analyzed  show  a  very  low  per 
centage  of  sugar,  there  are,  on  the  other  hand,  five  (more 
than  one-fifth  of  the  whole   over  ten  per  cent.,  viz: 

SAMPLE  FROM  PER  CT.    SUGAR. 

Oxford 11.46 

Egypt 11.22 

Raleigh 10.97 

Lockville 10.82 

Hillsboro 10.24 

Of  the  remaining  sixteen  lots  more  than  three-fourths  go 
over^five  per  cent.,  by  no  means  a  very  bad  showing. 

It  had  been  ray  intention  to  endeavor,  by  a  careful  exami- 
nation of  the  results  obtained  in  different  localities,  and  on 
different  soils,  and  with  difi'erent  management,  to  be  able  to 
point  out  the  cause  of  failure  of  one,  or  the  success  of  another 
in  obtaining  beets  with  a  high  per  centage  of  sugar.  But 
with  the  few  results  that  we  have  been  able  to  gather  and 
the  few  reports  made  by  the  experimenters,  we  would  reach 
an  idle,  or  at  least  highly  conjectural  conclusion.  Still,  I 
would  recommend  our  farmers  to  notice  carefully  the  reports 
of  the  experimenters,  and  comj^arethe  results  of  their  labor, 
and  they  will  oftentimes  find  valuable  hints  and  suggestions 
for  their  guidance  next  year. 
4 


(50) 


I  will  close  with  the  reiteration  of  the  wish  that  the  re- 
sult of  this  report  may  be  to  keep  alive  the  interest  in  our 
experiments,  and  that  another  jear  may  find  our  people 
ready  to  give  intelligent  and  efficient  aid  to  the  Department 
of  Agriculture  in  its  eftbrts  to  implant  this  new  industry  in 
our  State. 


^  OCT  83 

i51#      N. -MANCHESTER, 
^jS^         INDIANA  46962 


